Governor



Dec. 14, 1965 J. w. RYAN ETAL GOVERNOR Filed Dec. 12, 1963 NG CITRON EDANlELSEN INVENTORS United States Patent Ofifice 3,2232% Patented Dec.14, 1965 3,223,268 GOVERNOR John W. Ryan, Bel Air, Manning Citron, LosAngeles,

and Borne Danielsen, Pacific Palisades, Califi, assignors to Mattel,Inc, Hawthorne, Califi, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 12, 1963,Ser. No. 330,114 Claims. (Cl. 188184) In genera], the present inventionrelates to a centrifugal governor. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to an inexpensive, easily constructed centrifugalgovernor adapted to eliminate vibration therein irrespective of theorientation or acceleration of the governor.

Most centrifugal governors have independently operating weights eachwith its own spring for biasing it inwardly. Such arrangement operatessatisfactorily when the plane of rotation of the governor is horizontal,but when the rotation is in a vertical direction, vibration occurs. Suchproblem is due to the unequal forces on the weights since the upperweight has the force of gravity urging the weight inwardly while thelower weight has the force of gravity urging it outwardly. A similareffect occurs when the governor is subjected to an accelerating forcesuch as when it is thrown. The vibration problem associated with therandom positioning of the governor interferes with the properfunctioning of the governor in applications such as the Voice unit usedin talking dolls such as the one described in US. Patent No. 3,095,201.Because of the governor vibration, the quality of sound reproduction insuch voice unit is greatly affected.

In addition, Where two biased springs are utilized in centrifugalgovernors, a careful balancing of spring tension is necessary to assurethat no unbalanced forces are acting on the governor. As mentionedabove, such unbalance of forces adversely affects the proper functioningof the governor in uses such as doll voice units.

In view of the foregoing state of the prior art, one of the objects ofthe present invention is a centrifugal governor which is adapted toeliminate vibration therein irrespective of the orientation oracceleration of the governor.

Another object of the present invention is a centrifugal governor whichutilizes a single spring means for biasing weights inwardly.

Still another object of the present invention is an inexpensively,easily constructed centrifugal governor which is adapted to be used indoll voice units.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate apreferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the present invention involves a centrifugal governor havinga rotatably mounted rotor and two weights rotatably mounted on saidrotor. Between the weights is an interlocking means for equalizing theforces exerted thereon and a spring means for biasing the weightsinwardly.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, referencewill now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specificembodiment of the present invention. Such drawings should not beconstrued as limiting the invention which is properly set forth in theappended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a doll voice unit showing the governor of thepresent invention installed therein.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG- URE 1 taken alongthe lines 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken along the lines 33of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the governor of the presentinvention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14, the governor 10 of the present inventionincludes a stationary housing 11, a rotor 20 rotatably mounted withinthe housing 11, two weights 40 and 50 rotatably mounted on the rotor 11,interlocking means between the weights 4t} and 50 and spring means 70operatively connected between the weights 40 and 50.

The housing 11 (shown in outline in FIGS. 2 and 3) includes an upperwall 12 and lower wall 13 with a circular side wall 14. The rotor 20includes a central shaft 21 journaled at its first end 22 in the upperwall 12 of the housing 11 and journaled at its second end 23 in asupport 24 shown in outline in FIG. 2. About the second end 23 of theshaft 21 is formed a gear 25 which meshes with a timing or gear belt 26and is thereby operatively connected with the remainder of the voiceunit. The shaft 21 extends through an aperture 15 in the lower wall 13of the housing 11 and is mounted therein by means of a washer 16 and asleeve 17. The second end 23 of the shaft 21 has a cap 18 thereon forpositioning the timing belt 26 and reducing the friction with thesupport 24. Adjacent the first end 22 of the shaft 21 is a cross-bar 27which has its ends 28 and 29 extending radially adjacent to the housing11. Each end 28 and 29 has a socket 30 and 31, respectively, formedtherein.

Rotatably mounted on the rotor 20 are two weights 40 and 50. The weights40 and 50 each have a post 41 and 51, respectively, which is slidablymounted in the sockets 31 and 30, respectively, of the cross-bar 27 sothat the weight is rotatable inwardly and outwardly with respect to therotor 20. Adjacent the posts 41 and 51 of the weights 40 and 50,respectively, are arcuate-shaped lugs 42 and 52, respectively. The lugs42 and 52 have friction means 43 and 53, respectively, thereon adaptedto engage the inner surface 19 of the side wall 14 of the housing 11when the weights 40 and 50 move outwardly. The friction means 43 and 53may consist simply of pads of felt adhesively connected to the lugs 42and 52, respectively.

Between the weights 40 and 50 are interlocking means 60 for equalizingthe forces exerted thereon. The interlocking means 60 include opposinggear sectors 61 and 62 on the weights 40 and 50, respectively. Theinterlocking means 60 also include an idler arm 63 rotatably mounted onthe rotor 20 between the weights 40 and 50. The idler arm 63 has twogear sectors 64 and 65 which are meshed with the adjoining weight gearsectors 61 and 62, respectively.

Extending between the rotor 20 and the idler arm 60 is a spring meansfor biasing the weights 40 and 50 inwardly. The spring means 70 includesa torsion spring 71 mounted on the rotor 20 and with oneend 72 bracedagainst the end 29 of the cross-bar 27 of the rotor 20 and the other end73 braced against a boss 66 on the idler arm 60.

When the voice unit is not in use, the spring means 70 moves the weights40 and 5t) inwardly adjacent to the rotor 20. However, when the voiceunit is operated, the gear belt 26 causes the rotor 20 and the weights40 and 50 connected thereto to rotate. The rotation of the Weights 40and 50 imparts a centrifugal force which overcomes the bias of thespring means 70 so that the Weights 40 and 50 move outwardly until thefriction means 43 and 53 thereon contact the side wall 14 of the housing11. The frictional engagement between the housing 11 and friction means43 and 53 acts on the weights 40 and 50 to govern the speed of the voiceunit.

When the governor 10 is oriented so that the weights arrangement may beused without the housing.

40 and 50 rotate in a vertical plane, the force of gravity will tend tocause an unbalance with respect to the forces exerted by the weights 40and 50 on the housing 11. However, since the weights 40 and 50 areinterlocked through their gear sector and the respective gear sectors ofthe idler arm 63, the result is such force is equalized so that nounbalance force is exerted against the housing 11. Consequently, novibration is caused.

Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be obviousto one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, threeor four weights may be utilized instead of the two weights illustratedin the preferred embodiment. Also, although the centrifugal governor isutilized within a housing so that the weights frictionally contact thewalls of the housing, the same In addition, any convenient means may beused to interlock the weights of the governor so long as it functions toequalize the forces exerted thereon.

There are many features in the present invention which clearly show thesignificant advance the present invention presents over the prior art.Consequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will bepointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results attained bythe present invention. One feature of the present invention is the useof an interlocking means to equalize the force exerted on the weights ofthe centrifugal governor. Thus, irrespective of the orientation of thegovernor or the acceleration to which it is subjected, the force ofgravity on the weights is compensated for and no vibration resultstherefrom. Another feature of the present invention is the utilizationof a single spring for biasing the weights inwardly. Thus, a carefulbalancing of the spring tension is rendered unnecessary and assembly ofthe governor is simplified.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and examples areonly illustrative of the present invention, and it is not intended thatthe invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations andmodifications of the present invention which come within the scope ofthe following claims or to which the present invention is readilysusceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure are considered part of the present invention.

It is claimed:

1. An inexpensive, easily constructed centrifugal governor adapted toeliminate vibration therein irrespective of the orientation oracceleration of the governor, comprising:

(a) a stationary housing; I

(b) a rotor rotatably mounted within said housing;

(c) two weights rotatably mounted on said rotor, said weights eachhaving a gear sector and friction means thereon adapted to engage theinner surface of said housing when said weight moves outwardly;

(d) an idler arm rotatably mounted on said rotor between said weights,said idler arm having two gear sectors with each gear sector beingmeshed with the adjoining weight gear sector; and

(e) a spring means extending between said rotor and idler arm forbiasing said weights inwardly.

2. An inexpensive, easily constructed centrifugal governor adapted toeliminate vibration therein irrespective of the orientation oracceleration of the governor, comprising:

(a) a stationary housing;

(b) a rotor rotatably mounted within said housing,

said rotor having a cross-bar with the ends of said cross-bar extendingradially adjacent to said housing;

() two weights rotatably mounted on said rotor, said weights each havinga gear sector and friction means 5 thereon adapted to engage the innersurface of said housing when said weights move outwardly, each of saidweights being rotatably mounted on an end of said cross-bar;

(d) an idler arm rotatably mounted on said rotor between said weights,said idler arm having two gear sectors with each gear sector beingmeshed with the adjoining weight gear sector; and

(e) a spring means extending between said rotor and said idler arm forbiasing said weights inwardly.

3. An inexpensive, easily constructed centrifugal governor adapted toeliminate vibration therein irrespective of the orientation oracceleration of the governor, comprising:

(a) a stationary housing;

(b) a rotor rotatably mounted within said housing;

(c) two weights rotatably mounted on said rotor, said weights eachhaving a gear sector and friction means thereon adapted to engage theinner surface of said housing when said weights move outwardly;

(d) an idler arm rotatably mounted on said rotor between said weights,said idler arm having two gear sectors with each gear sector beingmeshed with the adjoining weight gear sector; and

(e) a spring means extending between said rotor and 30 said idler armfor biasing said weights inwardly,

said spring means comprising a torsion spring mounted on said rotor withone end braced against said rotor and the other end braced against saididler arm.

4. An inexpensive, easily constructed centrifugal governor adapted toeliminate vibration therein irrespective of the orientation oracceleration of the governor, comprising:

(a) a rotatably mounted rotor;

(b) two weights rotatably mounted on said rotor;

(c) interlocking means between said weights for equalizing the forcesexerted thereon, said interlocking means including gear sectors on eachof said weights and an idler arm rotatably mounted on said rotor betweensaid weights, said idler arm having two gear sectors with each gearsector being meshed with the adjoining weight gear sector; and (d) aspring means operatively connected between said weights for biasing saidweights inwardly. 5 5. An inexpensive, easily constructed centrifugalgovernor adapted to eliminate vibration therein irrespective of theorientation or acceleration of the governor, comprising:

(a) a rotatably mounted rotor; (b) two weights rotatably mounted on saidrotor; (c) idler means interlocking said weights for equalizing theforces exerted thereon; and (d) spring means connecting said idler meansto said rotor for biasing said weights inwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,863 11/1918Moore. 2,788,868 4/1957 Black et al. 188 184 MILTON BUCHLER, PrimaryExaminer.

DUANE A, REGER, ARTHUR L. LA POINT,

Examiners.

5. AN INEXPENSIVE, EASILY CONSTRUCTED CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR ADAPTED TOELIMINATE VIBRATION THEREIN IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ORIENTATION ORACCELERATION OF THE GOVERNOR, COMPRISING: (A) A ROTATABLY MOUNTED ROTOR;(B) TWO WEIGHTS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROTOR; (C) IDLER MEANSINTERLOCKING SAID WEIGHTS FOR EQUALIZING THE FORCES EXERTED THEREON; AND(D) SPRING MEANS CONNECTING SAID IDLER MEANS TO SAID ROTOR FOR BIASINGSAID WEIGHTS INWARDLY.